Bag emptying device for vacuum cleaners



Dec. 3, 1940. w. LEATHERS 2,224,093

' BAG EMP'IYING DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Filed May 9, 1938 INVENTOR Patented Dec. 3, 1940 PATENT OFFICE BAG EMPTYING DEVICE FOR VACUUM CLEANERS Ward Leathers, Haworth, N. 'J., assignor to R. B. Small, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Application May 9, 1938, Serial No. 206,726

11 Claims.

The object of my invention is to make vacuum cleaner bag-emptying a simple, cleanly process in the home. to take vacuum-cleaner bags, when filled with dirt, to the basement or out back of the barn to empty them, since the dust from shaking the bag contaminated the entire surroundings. I accomplish this purpose by means of a receptacle not carried on the bag, which is applied at time of emptying only by means of slide-guides permanently joined to the underside of the bag, and particularly, I accomplish this purpose in practical manner by covering the aperture through which the dirt is dumped and pressed into the receptacle by means of a cover made flexible in one dimension. The principle of this permanently attached cover is not unlike that of a roll-top desk, but the cover itself may be made of any of many materials and in many suitable ways, some of which have been described herein. This sliding cover is held on the bag under the same side rails under which flanges onthe rim of the receptacle also slide. Receptacle and cover hook or latch together in such manner that they are separable only when the cover is closed. Hence the aperture is covered at all times during the process of emptying, and such emptying can be done without spilling dirt or dissipating dust.

30 In order to set forth my invention in terms understandable to all, I have prepared thefollowing specification, and appended drawing, of which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device on 85 the under side of a vacuum-cleaner bag.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the bag frame.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of a sliding, folding cover.

Figure 41s a detail of same.

40 Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a modified cover which slides and rolls.

Figure 6 is a partial plan of same. Figure '7 is a modified detail. Figure 8 is a latch and other details.

45 My device is particularly adaptable to the under side of a vacuum-cleaner bag, as illustrated in Figure 1. A stifi under frame I, see Figure 2, is sewn into the fabric of the vacuum-cleaner bag toprovide an emptying aperture 2. On this frame 60 is a suitable padding of felt covered by fabric, preferably the bag fabric itself. Frame I, shown in dotted lines, Figure 1, supports guide rails 3, attached in any suitable manner such as by rivets. The rails slidably support the cover 4 made of 5 cross bars hingedly joined together. A flexible Heretofore it has been necessary tongue 5 on the lower end of the cover is stitched to the bag at 6.

More complete details concerning the rolling of cover 4 may best be described in conjunction I with the longitudinal section shown at Figure 3. 5 A piece of tough, flexible material I with an inner surface impregnated and smooth, such as oil cloth, artificial leather, or rubberized fabric, supportson its other and uncoated side by means of suitable adhesive, by vulcanizing, or in other 10 manner, stiif cross-strips 8 made of wood, Bakelite, vulcanized fibre, or other stiff and suitable material. The strip I is extended to form a loop 5 which is sewn to the bag at 6. The cross-strip 9 at the lower end of the cover has a turned 15 flange III which may be turned either toward the bag or away from the bag, the object of which is to furnish a stop to the upward or closing movement of the cover. When the stop-flange I0 is turned toward the bag its cooperating stop 20 is the lower edge of the inner frame I. When turned-away from the bag, as shown, the cooperating stop may be the ends of the guide rails 3. At the upper end of the cover the cross-bar I2 may, in practical construction, be made wider than the other bars, and to it may be attached a channel piece I3 made of metal or bent fibre or other suitable material, or indeed the channel piece [3 may be integral consisting of a bent portion of the cross-bar itself. Where made as a separate part the channel piece may be joined to the cross-bar I2 in any suitable manner as by rivets.

A receptacle IS with a handle I8 is provided with side flanges II which slide beneath the rails 3. Where the material of the flange on the receptacle is thinner than the cover the edge of the flange may be turned down as at l8 to fit under the guide rails 3 in similar manner to'that of the cover. At the downward or forward edge of the receptacle a lip 20 is turned down to engage the channel l3 and on the other or handle end a lip 2| is turned upward to make a stop which, owing to the flexibility of the bag fabric, will stop against the upper edge of the inner frame I'.

The guide rails 3 may be made of any suitable thin, stiff material, preferably of vulcanized fibre. It is also desirable to make the channel I3 of hard fibre or other non-metallic material in order that there be no metallic contact with the floor when the vacuum cleaner is used with the handle at a very small angle to the floor.

Figure 4 shows a method of joining the crossbars together in a very satisfactory manner. In

' this case an additional but lighter piece of fabric 60 manner.

2 V 25 is applied to the under or outer side of the slide bars and the two pieces of fabric are stitched together between the cross-bars as at 2|.

A modified but improved means of making my 5 sliding cover, shown in Figures 5 and 8, consists of rigid cross-members 3i and 3|, preferably of 1 metal and a series of music wires 32 spaced at suitable intervals. Fabric strip 33 on the under or outer surface of the cover adds tensile strength to the flnished cover and provides the attachin loop ii. The major portion of the cover is made of moulded, vulcanized rubber. Perforations II 'in themetal parts provide anchorage for the moulded rubber. The method of manufacture consists of placing a strip of fabric 33 dipped. in

--latex in the mould flrst. Then the end bars and wires are placed and spaced, the rubber doughsheet is placed on top. and the die closed. By this method a very uniform cover can be produced and an exact thickness of rubber may be left on the upper or inner side above the metal sheet and wire parts. The inner surface can be moulded very smooth. the rubber stock will have suiliclent resistance to slide when pushed from '25 the end, and very little elongation when pulled into place: it will have a suiiicient rolling quality for turning into a loop when the receptacle is applied: it will be extremely non-yieldable in the crosswise direction, and will make a very durable so and almost indestructible type of cover for this purpose.

The music wire cross-pieces may be replaced by shallow channelsof very stiff metal such as dural or hard steel, see Figure 7. These channels may 35 have perforations at intervals to aid in binding the moulded rubber to the fabric back 33 and for the further purpose of registering over slightly projecting centering pins in the mould as an aid in manufacture.

a If desired, a lock may be provided which will make it impossible to open the cover accidentally while the machine is in use. Any type of latch or lock may be provided. Asuitable form would comprise a latch member 40, Figure 8, preferably 5 a substantially flat stamping, turning on the shouldered rivet ll, disposed near the end of the guide rail I, joined to the guide rail, and, if de-' sired, also to the under frame I. On one end of the latch member 40 is a nose 2 which after passing through an aperture 43 in the guide rail 3, engages the channel at the upper end of the cover. On the other endof the latch member 40 is a back stop 48. A bent portion 41 of the latch member serves as a thumb-grip for operating.

7 55 The receptacle ll, corner of which is shown (as sectioned on the dotted line AA. Figure 3) has a taper trim 48 on itstop flange which, working in conjunction with' a taper trim 50 on the guide I rail, centers the'receptacle sidewise in simple I 76 locking connection between the closure and the dirt receptacle, so that an arcuate movement of the dirt receptacle is necessary to disengage the interlocking portionsof the closure and the dirt receptacle from each other to permit the re- 75 moval of the dirt receptacle. As the said exthe dirt may be emptied from a tended portion of the frame i overlies the channel-forming portion i3 of the closure, it prevents the lip or flange 20 from being lifted out of engages-rent with the channel-forming portion it by a direct upward movement of the dirt recep- 5 tacle. A loop or shaker tab, not shown, sewn to the upper side of the bag above the aperture 2', enables rapid shaking of the bag so that gravity will aid in getting heavy or solid particles of dirt into the receptacle. The sticky type of dirt, 10

namely, carpet nap, and other rubbish, may be pressed in from above by means of the upper fabric of the bag itself. When the dirt is in the receptacle it is removed by drawing the receptacle out of the side guides until the end stop l0 limits -15 further movement of the cover. The receptacle is then freed from connection with the cover. Throughout the entire operation there has been no opening or exposing of the interior of the dirt bag to the external atmosphere, excepting only 20 during the intervals of putting the receptacle on and off there is atmospheric communication by way of the cup, but during such intervals there is no disturbance of the air in the bag and hence no dust or dirt escapes.

Having set forth my invention in'an understandable manner, I wish to make note of the fact that many materials and many types of detailed construction may be worked out by those versed in these arts without departing from the spirit of so my invention.

I claim:

1. A flexible dust receiving bag for vacuum 7 cleaners wherein thebag is provided with a discharge aperture, a frame surrounding the aper- 35 ture and secured to the bag, oppositely disposed guide members secured to the frame on opposite sides of said aperture, a flexible cover presenting a smooth, unbroken yieldable inner surface to the bag to form a dust-tight contact between the 4'6 cover and the bag and slidably mounted in said guide members and normally closing said aperture, said cover being stiflened transversely in the direction between the guides and being flexible in the sliding direction thereof. 7 i

2. A. flexible dust receiving bag for vacuum cleaners wherein the bag is provided with a discharge aperture, a frame surrounding the aperture and secured to the ba oppositely disposed guide members secured to the frame on opposite 50 sides of said aperture, a cover slidably mounted in said guide members and normally closing said aperture, one of said guide members having a slot, and a latch pivotally mounted on the guide having the slot and having a portion arranged to extend through the slot into engagement with the cover for locking the same in its closed position.

3. A flexible dust receiving bag for vacuum cleaners wherein the bag is provided with a dis charge aperture, 9. flexible, slidable cover normally closing said aperture. and means for connecting one end of the-cover to the bag whereby the flexible cover will be flexed into loop formationadjacent one end of said aperture exteriorly of the bag when the cover is moved to its open position.

4. A flexible dust receiving bag for vacuum cleaners wherein the bag is provided with a dis- 7 charge aperture, a frame surrounding the aperture and secured to the bag, oppositely disposed guide members secured to the frame on opposite sides of said aperture, a flexible cover presenting a smooth, unbroken inner surface to the bag to form a dust-tight contact between the cover and 7 between them, said cover being so constituted to hold normal pressures in the bag in a dust-tight manner when closed and to bend freely when subtended from the end of the guides when the aperture is open.

5. A flexible dust receiving bag for vacuum cleaners wherein the bag is provided with an aperture for emptying purposes and a flexible, slidable cover comprising an outer rubber impregnated fabric, intermediate spaced transversely disposed reinforcing members, and an inner sheet of rubber united to the outer sheet and having the reinforcing cross members embedded within it, said cross members stiffening the closure transversely without interfering with the longitudinal flexibility of the cover in the direction of its sliding movement and said inner sheet presenting a smooth, yieldable, unbroken surface to the bag.

6. A flexible dust receiving bag for vacuum cleaners wherein the bag is provided with an aperture for emptying purposes and a flexible, slidable cover comprising an outer rubber impregnated fabric, spaced cross wires arranged at intervals, end bars disposed at the ends of the flexible cover, and an inner sheet of rubber united to the outer sheet and having the wires and-the end bars embedded within it, said end bars and wires stiffening the cover transversely without interfering with the longitudinal flexibility of the cover in the direction of the sliding movement thereof.

7. A flexible dust receiving bag for vacuum cleaners wherein the bag is provided with an aperture for emptying purposes, a flexible, slidable cover including a sheet of-flexible material,

reinforcing means embedded in the flexible sheet and including end bars, and a tongue secured to one of the end bars and attached to the bag and arranged to cause the flexible cover to be rolled into looped formation adjacent one end of the aperture when the cover is moved to open position.

8. A flexible dust receiving bag for vacuum cleaners wherein the bag is provided with a dis charge aperture, a frame surrounding the aperture and secured to the bag, oppositely disposed guide members secured to the frame on opposite sides of said aperture, a flexible cover presenting a smooth unbroken inner surface to the bag to form a dust-tight contact between the cover and the bag and slidably mounted in said guide members and normally closing said aperture, said cover comprising a composite structure having inner and outer layers of rubber vulcanized together but with thin, flexible, non-metallic parts between them, said cover being so constituted to hold normal pressure in the bag in a dust-tight manner when closed and to bend freely when subtended from the end of the guides when the aperture is open.

9. A flexible dust receiving bag for vacuum 1 cleaners wherein the bag is provided with a discharge aperture, 8. frame surrounding the aperture and secured to the bag, oppositely disposed guide members secured to the frame on opposite sides of said aperture, and a flexible cover presenting a smooth, unbroken, yieldable inner surface to the bag to form a dust-tight contact between the cover and the bag and slidably mounted in said guide members and normally closing said aperture, said cover being flexible in the sliding direction thereof.

10. A flexible dust receiving bag for vacuum cleaners wherein the bag is provided with a discharge aperture, a frame surrounding the aperture and secured to the bag, oppositely disposed guide members secured to the frame on opposite sides of said aperture, and a closure presenting a smooth inner surface to the bag to form a dusttight contact between the closure and the bag and slidably mounted in said guide members and normally closing said aperture, said closure being provided with a. rigid bar arranged to engage a fixed contacting cooperating means on the bag for limiting the sliding movement of the closure in the direction of its closing movement when the closure is in its closed position.

11. A flexible dust receiving bag for vacuum cleaners wherein the bag is provided with a discharge aperture, a frame surrounding the aperture and secured to the bag, oppositely disposed guide members secured to the frame on opposite sides of said aperture, and a closure consisting of a flexible rubber sheet presenting a smooth inner surface to the bag to form a dust-tight contact between the closure and the bag and slidably mounted in said guide members and normally closing said aperture, said closure being provided with a rigid bar arranged to engage a fixed contacting cooperating means on the bag for limiting the sliding movement of the closure in the direction of its closing movement when the closure is in its closed position. i

WARD LEA'II-IERS. 

